Glory for UCC after shoot-out

University College, Cork won an emotional inter-varsity title on home turf at the Mardyke yesterday, ousting University of Ulster on penalty strokes after a tense 1-1 stalemate.

The Mauritius Cup will reside in Cork for just the second time in their history — the other was won in 1995 — and rounds off a memorable year for the club who won their first national senior crown, the Irish Hockey Trophy, in April.

Having seen DIT dump holders UCD out in the group stage to take over the favourites’ mantle, the Cork hosts did a number on the Dubliners in the semi-finals, winning 3-1 thanks to two Fionn O’Leary strikes and a cracker from Nigel Bateman. That setup a clash with the Belfast men, for whom goal machine Jordan Robinson had struck twice to hold off the challenge of Trinity.